Weighing-machine



Patented Dec. 27, I898.

F. H. RlCHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application fileH Feb. 11, 1898.

5 Sheets-Sheet L (No Model.)

fiwentor:

Witness es m: Momma Psrzm co BHUTC-UTHO, WASHINGTON, n. n.

No. 6l6,634. Patented Dec. 27, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 11', 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

fie vendor r Minessea' ms NORRIS PETERS cu. Pnnmumu. WA5HINGTOM u c,

No. 6|6,634. Patented Dec. 27, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1898.} (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Witnesses: Inventor:

MW R

ms NOHRIS vucws ru. vaormnmu \wwmsfow. n r

No. 65,634. Patented Dec. 27, I898. F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model) Fig: 6F.

Inventor:

Witnesses m: NORRU} PETERS co. FHOTO-LIYNOH \VASHWGTON. n c

8 9 mm 2 0 B D U G t n B a P S D R A H m R H F WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

Model.)

F'l'y. 5.

Witnesses:

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FRANCIS ll. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, GONNEUllOU'l.

WElGHlNG-MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,684, dated December 2'7, 189 8 I Application filed February 11, 1898. Serial No. 669,988. (No model.)

T) (tZ/ 1071 0712, it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veighlug-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weighing machines of that class adapted for automatically makin up and discharging predetermined quantities ofgranular or other material.

One of the main objects of this invention is the provision of an improved machine of this type having a stream-controlling valve releasable at a determined point in the operation of the machine from a holding device carried by the usual beam mechanism, suitable means being employed of course for effecting the closing of the valve when so released. in the preferred construction the beam carries a swinging cam normally held against movement relatively to the beanrby a latch or similar holding device, this latch being tripped at a determined point to permit the valve-closing actuator to become effective to shut the valve regardless of the f urtherdescent of the beam. This cam for closing the valve will also cooperate usually with the valve-actuator, which may be of any desired construction, provided it is capable of engaging the cam at the proper point in the operation of the mechanism and shifting such cam to rot urn the valve to its wide-open position.

Another feature of this invention is the employment of a supplemental or safety, valve in addition to the main valve just described and a let-oif-actuatingdevice controlling the opening and the closing of said valve. This let-oilf-actuating device is so constructed as to release the supplemental valve at the proper time after the load has been made up in the load-receiver, and it also serves to reopen the valve after all of the material has passed out from the machine, the closer is shut, and the other parts are in position to permit the malting up of new load. Preferably the let-off device will be capable of reciprocation. or os i cillation in paths which are transverse relatively to each other, the movement of this letoff device in one of such paths being controlled in this case by the shiftable member or load -discharger carried by the load-re ceiver for discharging a load, while the movement of said let-off device in another of such paths will preferably be governed by the re- 1 turn of the regulator to its normal position.

In connection with the shiftable member of the load-receiver I employ a pair of separatelyefi'ective holding devices for securing such shiftable member or loaddischarger in its open or shut positions, respectively, these letoif devices being preferablya pair of pivoted coacting latches suitably connected and controlled by a pair of latch-trippers, also operative at different points in the cycle of move ments of the mechanism. One of these latches normally holds the load-discharger or closer shut and is released by one of the latch-trippers, while the other latch holds the closer open for a determined length of time and is then released by the other latch-tripper. Both of these latch-trippers will ordinarily be carried by the thrust-rod, which connects the valve-opening actuator (in this case the regulator) with the valve, and one of said trippers may be of the by-pass type.

Other features of this invention, relating more particularly to the details of construction and the organization of the various parts of the several principal mechanisms, will be described indetail hereinafter.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of an automatic weighingmachine constructed in accordance with my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the parts in position for delivering a full stream to the load-receiver. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the drip position. i is a similar view showing the positions of the parts when the load is completed and the flow of material stopped. Fig. 5 is a similar view, with parts broken away, showing the positions of the several devices when the closer is opened and the load discharged; and Figs. (5 and 7 are details illustrating the manner in which the closer is supported on the load-receiver.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

An y suitable framework may be employed for supporting the several operative parts of myimprovedweighing-machine. Thatillustrated herein comprises the usual base, such as 3, from which rise side frames 2 and 2, connected at their upper ends by a cross-beam 5 and carrying the usual supply-hopper II for delivering material to the receiver of the weighing mechanism.

The weighing mechanism embodies as its essential elements a load-receiver having a member shiftable for discharging the load and beam mechanism.

The beam mechanism may be substantially of the type shown at B, it comprising a pair of connected counterweighted beams supported by the usual knife-edge pivots on the cross-beam 5 and also having similar knifeedge bearings from which is suspended in a well-known mannera bucket orload-receiver, as G. The opening through which material is discharged from this receiver is controlled by a closer, such as L, which will be described more fully hereinafter.

The stream-controlling means by which the flow of material to the receiver G is governed is of novel type and embodies as its essential elements a main valve, which may be of the type shown at 70, and a supplemental or safety valvesuch, for example, as that represent-ed at (30. Both of these valves are preferably supported for oscillation about a common axis, such as 72, on the hopper H and are intended to close the discharge-mouth of the supply-spout by swinging under the latter, one overlapping the other. The main valve should close first and has in this instance a rock-arm 75, movablein unison therewith and carrying at its outer end an antifriction-roll adapted to coact with a suitable controlling or actuating device. In the preferred construction this device will be in the nature of a member shiftable on the beam mechanism. When released, it will oppose no resistance to the closing movement of the valve, which, it should be understood, will be effeoted in anysuitable manner-as, for example, by making the valve of such weight thatit will be self-closing. Either a member on the valve or the shiftable member on the beam mechanism will have a cam-face, and in this instance the beam carries a shiftable cam, preferably in the form of a cam-lever, such as that designated by Z, this cam-lever having an upwardly-extending cam-arm 50, the cam-face 50 of which coaels with the antifrietion-roll 75 to determine the position of the main valve 70. The cam-face 50' is of such shape that when the beam is up, as shown in Fig. 2, the main valve will be held wide open, and the full stream will therefore then flow into the load-receiver, while when the beam descends the antifriction-roll 75 will ride over a cam-face of such shape that the main valve will close to the drip position and will remain there until the cam is released, when of course the valve should quickly shut. The cam-lever Z is in this case in the form of an angle-lever, the arm 51 of which cooperates with a holding device, which may also be carried by the beam. In this case the holding device is in the nature of a latch, such as l0, pivoted on the beam Bin advance of the pivot of the latter and having at its lower end a latch-face l0, adapted to engage a detent or stop, which may be carried either on the arm 51 or an arm 51', movable in unison with the arm 51. This detent or stop is indicated at 51". The latch a0 will preferably be spring-pressed, it being held normally in engagement with the detent 51" by a light spring, such as 52.

For the purpose of releasing the holding device or latch 40 at the proper point in the operation of the machine, which point of course will be about at the end of the drip period, I may make use of any suitable tripping membersuch, for exam ple, as the latchtripper or fixed pin 52 on the side of the hopper, this pin cooperating with the upper inclined end 40" of the latch at) to release the detent 51 properly.

In order to limit the movement of the camlever Z, I prefer to employ a stop carried on the latch l0, and hence the latter has at the lower end thereof astop member 4.0" in position to engage the detent 51 after the latch is released by the tripper For the purpose of returning the cam-lever to its normal position and at: the same time opening the main valve 70 I may make use of any suitable valve-opening means; but in this case I prefer to employ a suitable regulator, such as R, as the valve-opening device and to connect to said regulator the usual valve-opening thrust-rod, such as 515, which may coact at. its upper end with an antifriction-roller, such as 51", at the extreme rear end of the arm 51 of the cam-lever. The upper end of said thrust-rod may have at 515 a cam-face, over which the roller 51 is intended to ride to shift the valve to the wide-open position, while a cut-away portion or face 515" at the upper rear side of the thrust-rod may be provided to form a space in which the roller may work on the release of the cam-lever from its latch on the descent of the weighted load-receiver.

In connect-ion with the thrust-rod 515 I make use of testing shifting means of the ordinary typesuch, for example, as the testing-lever if, connected by means of a link, as 30, with the thrust-rod 5l5 in such a manner as to shift the latter out of operative relation with the antifriction-roll 51" when it is desired to determine whether the machine is operating properly.

The supplemental orsafety cut-off valve 00, which has hereinbefore been referred to, will be released in this case and permitted to close only after the main valve 70 is shut, and for the purpose of effecting this closing move ment of the supplemental valve I prefer to make use of a let-off device, by means of which said supplemental valve may also be actuated subsequently to return said valve to its wide-open position. In the preferred construction the let-off device is normally in engagement with the valve and holds the same wide open. This device will engage some member projecting from the valvesuch, for example, as the pin or stud 60. The let-off device proper is intended to cooperate with this pin and will be normally in engagement therewith, but will be capable of being shifted out of the path of said pin when the load in the receiver is completed. In order to provide for this last-mentioned movement, the let-off device in the construction illustrated herein is mounted so as to reciprocate or oscillate in paths transverse relatively to each other, one ofthese paths being substantially in a horizontal direction and the other in substantiallyavertical direction.

The let-elf device may be of the type indidicated herein by 90, and in this instance is in the nature of a hooked bar or rod, the hooked forward end 00 of which normally engages the pin 60, while the rear end'of the bar may be pivotally connected to one end of an angle-lever, such as 91, supported on the framework, the other arm of this an gle-lever being connected in some suitable manner with the valve-opening actuator or regulator, the connections illustrated for that purpose being in this casea connecting-rod 92, an angle-lever 03, a connecting-rod 94, connected with the angle-lever 03 by a loose joint, and a rock-arm 95, connected to the rod 0-1: and movable in unison with the regulator. These connections may of course be varied at will.

Obviously the regulator, which ordinarily will be counterweighted in a well-known man ner, will constitute the means for shifting the hooked let-off device back and forth in its substantially horizontal path, the construction being such that when the regulator is in the position shown, for example, in Fig. 2 the supplemental valve 60 will be drawn to its extreme position to the right and will be held wide open, while when the regulator is down, as shown in Fig. 5, the let-off device will be in its extreme left-hand position and the supplemental valve will be shut. In connection with the regulator, however, I also employ coactin g means for operating the let off device, such means serving, when not held by any other part of the mechanism, to shift the let-elf device in a substantially vertical direction to carry the same out of engagement with the pin 60. In this case the hooked bar 90 is pivotally connected by means of a link 90, having an open eye, with a lever 97 on the side of the hopper ll, said lever being connected in turn to a long rod 08, disposed substantially in a vertical position and connected at the proper point with a device or devices governed by the movements of the closer. This rod 98 will usually have a weight, such as 98, which when the rod is not under restraint will tend to withdraw the let-off decation of the let-off device or bar, so the closer L is intended to control the vertical reciprocation of said member. In this case the connections from the rod 98 to the closer L include an angle-lever 100, pivoted on the framework and connected by a link or rod 101 to one end of another angle-lever 102, supported in this case on the side of the load-receiver and preferably having at its free end an antifriction-roll 103. This antifriction-roll at the free end of said angle-lever is intended to coast with a suitable part of the closer L, (in this case a canrface, such as 101.)

hen the parts are in their normal positions, (shown in Fig. 2,) the antifriction-roll will rest on the extreme point or top of the cam i, and hence the closing movement of the load-diseharger is effective for carrying the let-off device into its operative position in opposition to the force of the weight 98'; but when the closer opens and the weight 98 becomes effective the antifriction-roll103 will ride down the cam-face 104: and the let-oif device will be withdrawn to its inoperative position, (shown in Fig. 5,) out of engagement with the pin As before stated, I prefer to employ in connection with the load-receiver and its loaddischarger novel means for latching the loaddischarger and in this case for holding it positivelyboth when shut and when open. In the construction illustrated the closer has a pair of stop-faces or detents 20 and 20, projeeting from a face thereof concentric with the axis of oscillation of the closer, and these detents or stops are intended to coiiperate with a pair of holding devices or latches preferably supported on the side of the load receiver. In this case both of said latches will lie adjacent to the concentric face 21, just referred to, and will coact with each other, they being preferably pivotally supported in the usual manner for oscillation and connected so as to move in unison. The two latches which are illustrated herein are designated, respectively, by 82 and 83, the former being the latch for cooperating with the stop 20 to hold the closer shut, while the latter is designed to engage the face 20 to latch the closer open. In this case the latcharm of the first-mentioned latch is designated by 82, while the corresponding detent of the other is indicated by 83. The latch 82 may be connected with the latch 83 by means of an arm, such as 82, having a pin working in the forked end of a corresponding arm 88 of the other latch. Either one of these latches may be counterweighted in the usual manner, the latch 83 being the one so shown herein. The tripping of these latches may be eifected bysuitable tripping meanscooperatingwitha releasing-pin 82" on the latch S2. The means which I prefer to employ for this purpose are a pair of latch-trippers or releasing members separately effective at different points in the operation of the machine, and both of these closer-latch trippers may be carried advantageously by the valve-openin g thrust-rod 515. In the construction shown one of the latchtrippers (that indicated by may be a lixed pin on said thrust-rod, while the other will be in the nature of a bypass device, such as that indicated at 80. This by-pass device may be pivot-ally supported on the rod 515 and may be adjusted to a proper working position by an adjusting-screw, such as S7. It will have the usual tripping-arm, such as 86, and a stop-arm S6", coacting with the fixed stop 85 to limit the movement of such latch-tripper.

The latch-tripper S5, coacting with the arm 82, serves to release the latch-arm 82 from the stop when the load has been discharged, and on the descent of the regulator, with the thrust-rod 515, the latch-arm 83 will engage the stop 20, the release of this latch-arm being effected by the first partial rising movement of the regulator and the engagement of the tripper-arm S0 with the releasing-arm 8-3 of the latch 83.

For the purpose of preventing the return of the regulator to its normal position prematurely I prefer to employ in connection with the let-off device interlocking members, one of which will coact with the let-off bar and the other with the regulator. In the construction shown an angle-lever, such as 105, is supported on the base 3, adjacent to the regulator, and is connected to the lower extended end of the rod 08. This angle-lever has an interlocking stopfacc, such as 105, adapted to coact with the corresponding end of a bypass, such as 106, supported on the regulator R and preferably spring-pressed, as indicated at- 107. lVhen the regulator is in its lowermost position, (indicated in Fig. 5,) the step is somewhat below the stop-face but when the regulator rises slightly to trip the latch-arm 83 its continued ascent will be prevented by the engagement of the end of the step 100 against the face 105 of the anglelever 105.

The regulator which I prefer to employ is substantially of the usual counterweighted type,(indicatedatlh) butthedischarge-opening therein (shown herein at 108) will preferably be somewhat smaller than usual and will be wholly in the bottom thereof adjacent to that side wall of the regulator which is most remote from the counterweight, and this side wall will completely fill that side of the regulator, and hence cause the banking up of the material in the regulator for the proper length of time necessary to permit certain of the members of the weighing mechanism to return to their normal positions.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated, on an enlarged scale, a detail of construction used in connection with the closer or load-receiver.

This feature of the invention appertains to the journal-bearing between the closer and the part by which the latter is supported and is intended as an improvement upon the connections now in use. 12 designates in ageneral way a journal member formed in this case at the outer end of a stud, screw, or other part and having a substantially cylindrical journal-surface for supporting a corresponding bearing member on the load-discharger or closer. This bearin g member is designated in a general way by 13 and has a bearing the internal diameter of which is considerably greater than the external diameter of the journal member 12. Moreover, one side of the bearing member is open to permit cleansing of the engaging surfaces of the two parts, the openingpreferably extending from end to end of the bearing member and flaring somewhat, as indicated at 13", from the inner end or neck 13 of the opening. 13y reason of this construction the parts 12 and 13 have a loose fit on each other and provision is made for permitting the escape of dust or dirt, which might otherwise accumulate in the bearing and form into a solid mass, which would interfere with the perfect operation of the mechanism. The opening in the bearing member is widened out, as shown, for the purpose of enabling the attendant to get at and brush outreadily the accumulation of dust within the space between the bearing and journal surfaces.

The operation of a machine constructed in accordance with my present improvements, as illustrated in the drawings of this application, is as follows: It being understood that the parts are in their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 2, and that both the main valve and the supplemental valve are wide open and discharging the full stream into the loadreceiver, it will be seen that the hook of the let-off device is in engagement with the pin (30 of the supplemental valve, that the camlever Z is latched by the member l0, that the regulator is up, and that the closer is latched shut by the engagement of the latch of the arm 82 with the stop-face 20. As soon as the major portion of the load is made up in the receiver the beam mechanism and the bucket will descend, and thereupon the antifrictionroll 75 will ride over the cam-face 50' of the cam-lever Z as said cam-lever falls with the beam, and the main valve 70 will be shifted by its own weight to the drip position. (Illustratedin Fig. 3.) Duringthis period of movement the valve-latch 10 will swing with the beam, but will not move relatively to it, and the upper end of said latch will move toward the latch-tripper 52 and will come into engagement with it, but will not be released thereby until the load is nearly completed, when the farther. descent of the beam will cause the inclined face -10" of the valve-latch to ride down over the stop 52 and release the detent 10 from the stop 51", whereupon the weight of the valve will cause the latter to swing to its shut position, (illustrated in Fig. 4 the weight of the horizontal arm of the cam-lever being sullicient, of course, to shift the cam-arm thereof quickly out of the way of the antifriction-roller At the end of this movement of the cam-lever the main valve 70 is fully closed and the antifrictionroll 51" is behind the cut-away face 51 of the thrust-rod. (See Fig. 4:.) On the tripping of the latch 82 by the pin 85 the weight of the load forces the load-discharger open in the usual manner, and thereupon the contents of the load-receiver are discharged into the regulator B. At the end of its opening movement the latch 83 engages the stop-face 20 of the closer, as shown in Fig. 5, and latches the closer in its wide-open position. Immediately thereafter the weight of material discharged into the regulator carries the thrust-rod down to the position shown in Fig. 5, with the by-pass latclrtripper beneath the releasing-arm 82 of the latch 82. The opening of the closer and the descent of the regulator also cause the operation of the let-off device, the cam-face 104C permitting the antitriction-roll 108 to descend, and hence permitting the weight 08 to become effective to lift the hook from the pin 60' of the valve (30 and release the latter, whereupomof course,

the supplemental valve closes also. The descent of the regulator also causes the shifting of the hooked let-cit bar to the left, as seen in Fig. 5, through the connections hereinbet'ore describcd,the hooked member beingleftin position to engage the pin 90 again when the bar 00 is lowered. By the descent of theweight 98 the an gle-lever 105 is shifted to bring its stoparm to the vertical or dead-center position, as seen in Fig. 5, and the bypass arm 106 passes by the stop-face 105 on the descent of the regulator and goes considerably beyond it, as illustrated. Said stop remains in this posi tion until the regulator rises, owing to the discharge of a portion of the load through the opening 108, and when said" regulator rises through thisiinitial portion of its return movement the latch-tripping arm 86' raises the releasing-arm 82' and causes the disengagement of the latch-arm 83 from the stop 20, whereupon, of course, the closer will shut again; but it should be understood that the regulator does not rise until the major portion of its contents has been discharged. As soon as the step 106 comes into engagement with the stop 105 the regulator will remain in. that position and will be locked against return movement until the closer reaches the end of its return movement and the antifriction-roller 103 rides up the cam face 104; again, wherenpon, of course, the weight 08 and connected parts will be elevated and the lct-oft bar 90 lowered into engagement with the stop-pin 00, the rising rod 08 of course withdrawing the stop-face 105 from the stop 100 and permitting the regulator to close. On the rising of the regulator the latch-tripping arm 80 will. be swung slightly to the right, clear of the arm 82. On the rising of the thrustrod 515 the cam-face 515 thereof will engage the antifriction-roll 51 of the cam-lever l, which, it should be noted, was previously engaged with the stop 40' on the rising of the beam mechanism, and the main valve will be forced wide open again. At the same time the connections with the regulator from the rock-arm will also swing the let-oft-actuating device 90 to the right and draw the supplemental valve 60 wide open also, whereupon all of the parts will be in their normal positions for making up a new lead.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a weighing-machine, the combination,

with a valve and with means for closing thesame, of beam mechanism; a pair of coacting members carried, respectively, by the valve and the beam mechanism and controlling the closing of the former, one of said members constituting a cam and one of said members being shiftable on the beam mechanism; a device for positively holding said shiftable member; and means for releasing said holding member approximately at the time the load is completed.

2. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a pair of coacting members carried, respectively, by the valve and the beam mechanism and controlling the closing of the former, one of said members constituting a cam and one of said members being shiftable on the beam mechanism; a beam-supported latch for said shiftable inemher; and a latch-tripper.

3. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a cam shittable on the beam mechanism and coacting with and controlling the closing of the valve; a latch for said cam; and a latch-tripper operative at a determined point in the descent of the beam.

l. In a wei ghin g-machin e, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism a cam-lever shiftable on the beam mechanism. and coacting with and controlling the closing of the valve a beam-supported latch for said cam-lever; and a latch-tripper operative at a deter-min ed point in the descent of the beam.

5. In weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a cam-levershiftable on the beam mechanism and coacting with and controlling the closing of the valve; a beam-supported spring-pressed latch for said cam-lever; and a latclrtripper operative at a determined point in the descent of the beam.

b. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a cam shittable on the beam mechanism and coacting with and controlling the closing of the valve; a

latch for said cam; a latch-tripper operative having a closer shiftable for discharging a at a determined point in the descent of the load; a regulator supported to be shifted by beam; and a valve-opening actuator cooperative with said cam.

7. In a weighingmachine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a cam shiftable on the beam mechanism and eoacting with and controlling the closing of the valve; a latch for said cam; a latch-tripper operative at a determined point in the descent of the beam; a load-receiver having a member shiftable for discharginga load; a regulator; and a valve-opening-actuating member controlled by said regulator and coaeting with said cam.

S. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a cam shiftable on the beam mechanism and coacting with and controlling the closing of the valve; a latch for said cam; a latch-tripper operative at a determined point in the descent of the beam; a load-receiver having a member shift-- able for discharging a load; a regulator; and a valve-opening thrust-rod connected with said regulator and having a cam-face cooperative with the cam on the beam mechanism.

9. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a cam shiftable on the beam mechanism and coact-ii'ig with and controlling the closing of the valve; a latch for said cam; a latch-tripper operative at a determined point in the descent of the beam; a load-receiver having a member shifta-ble for discharging a load; a regulator; a valve-opening thrust-rod connected with said regulator and having a cam-face cooperative with the cam 011 the beam mechanism; and shifting testing means for shifting said rod out of operative relation with said cam.

10. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the same, of beam mechanism; a load-receiver having a closer shiftable for discharging the load; a regulator supported to be shifted by the load; a valve-opening thrustrod controlled by the regulator; a latch for locking said closer open; and a tripper on the valve-opening thrust-rod adapted to engage said latch on the return movement of the regulator thereby to release the closer.

11. In a weighing-machime, the combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiver having a closer, of main and supplemental valves supported independently of the weighing mechanism; actuating means for said valves; means for positively locking the supplemental valve against advancing movement during the advancing movement of the main valve; and an automatic let-off device controlled by said closer and operable to effect the release of the supplemental valve on the opening of the closer.

12. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a valve and with means for closing the load; a valve-opening thrust-rod controlled by the regulator; a latch for locking said closer open; a tripper on the valve-opening thrust-rod, adapted to engage and trip said latch on the return movement of the regulator, thereby to release the closer; means for positively locking the valve against advancing movement; and means forautomatically effecting the release of said valve on the opening of the closer.

13. I11 a weighing-machine, the combination, with a main valve, a supplemental valve, and actuating means for said valves, ot'weighing mechanism, and an automatic let-oil device reciprocatory in paths transverse relatively to each other and controlled in its movements by different members'of the weighing mechanism.

14. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a main valve, a supplemental valve, and actuating means for said valves, of weighing mechanism, and an automatic let-oil device oscillatory in paths transverse relatively to each other and controlled in its movements by different members of the weighing mechanism.

15. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a main valve, a supplemental valve, and actuating means forsaid valves, of weighing mechanism, and a hooked let-off device normally in engagement with the supplemental valve for opening the latter and reciprocatory in paths transverse relatively to each other into and out of operative relation with said valve and controlled in its movements by different members of the weighing mechanism.

16. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with a main valve, a supplemental valve, and actuating means forsaid valves, of weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiver and a load-discharger; a regulator; an automatic let-oft device normally in engagement with the supplemental valve for opening the latter and reci i rocatory in paths transverse relatively to each other into and out of operative relation with said valve; connecting means between the load-discharger and the let-oft device for controlling one of the reciprocatory movements of the latter; and connecting means between the regulator and the let-oft device for controlling the other reciproeatory movement of the latter.

1'7. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means and with stream-controlling means, of weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiver and a loaddischarger, and a pair of coacting latches carried by the load-receiver and separately effective for holding the load-diseharger in its open and shut positions, respectively.

18. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means and with stream-controlling means, of weighing mechthe same, ofbeam mechanism; aload-receiver l anism embodying a load-receiver and a load- ICC dischargcr, and a pair of connected pivoted latches carried by the load-receiver and separately effective for holding the load-discharger in its open and'shut positions, respectively.

19. In a weighing-machine, the combina-,

tion, with stream-supplying means and With stream-controlling means, of \voighingmeclr anism embodying a load-receiver and a loaddischarger; a pair of coacting latches carried by the load-receiver and separately effective for holding; the load-discharger in its open and shut positions, respectively; and a pair of lateh-trippers cooperative, respectively, with said latches.

20. In a Weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of a stream'controlling valve; weighing mechanism embed yin g a load-receiverhaving a member shiftable for discharging a load; a pair of latches separately effective for holding the shiftable member of the load-receiver in different positions; a valve-opening actuator; a valve-opening thrust-rod; and a pair of separately-effective latch-trippers carried by said thrust-rod and cooperative, respectively, with said latches. I

21. In a Weighinganachine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of a stream-controlling valve; Weighing mechanism einbodyinga load-receivcrhaving a member shiftable for discharging a load; a pair of latches carried by the weighing mechanism and separately effective for holding the shiftable member of the load-receiver in different positions; a valve-opening actuator; a valve-opening thrust-rod; and a pair of separately-eifective latch-trippers carried by said thrust-rod and cooperative, respectively, with said latches and disposed at different points in the length of the thrust-rod.

22. In a Weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of a stream-controlling valve; weighing mechanism embodyinga load-receiver having a member shiftable for discharging a load; a pair of latches carried by the weighing mechanism and separately effective for holding the shiftable member of the load-receiver in difforent positions; a valve-opening actuator;

a valve-opening thrust-rod; and a pair of separately-effective latch-trippers carried by said thrust-rod and cooperative, respectively, with said latches, one of said trippers constituting a by-pass latch-tripper.

In a \veig'hing-machine, the combination,with a main valve, a supplemental valve, and actuating means for said valves, of Weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiver and a load-discharger; a regulator; an automatic let-cit device controlled by the load-discharger and operative for releasing the supplemental valve at a determined point in the operation of the machine; and interlocking stops between the let-off device and the regulator.

24:. In a Weighing-machine, the combination,with a main valve, a supplemental valve, and actuating means for said valves, of weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiver and a load-discharger; a regulator; an automatic let-off device controlled by the load-discharger and operative for releasing the supplemental valve at a determined point in the operation of the machine; a lay-pass stop on the regulator; and a stop coacting' with said by-pass stop and controlled by the let-off device.

FRANCIS II, RICHARDS.

Witnesses F. N. OHAsn, JOHN O. Snnrnn'r. 

